Creative work has a lot of grey areas – things aren’t always cut and dry.
At Voquent, we work diligently to streamline the voice-over casting and production process to ensure clients get an excellent product and compensate voice-over talents appropriately. A win for customers, for voices, and for us – everyone’s happy!
Almost… every now and then, we have the uncomfortable situation where a client isn’t happy with the final audio and, worse, doesn’t feel like they should pay for the job.
While we always handle these situations with care, we wanted to know what voice actors thought about it all.
Should a client pay if they don’t like your voice-over?
We asked our audience of voice actors on Twitter if they thought a client should pay if they hate their voice over work.
Interestingly, the results were mixed, with 10% of responses siding with the client (they should pay nothing), 26% think the client should compensate half the session fee, and only 6% thought 75% of the session fee was appropriate.
An overwhelming 58% of you felt that a client should pay the full session fee, even if they’re not using the recording.
Swedish voice-over (via Facebook) said,
“I would never charge a client who is not 100% satisfied with my work.”
Although across the board, there were many opinions, most voice actors compared it to fast food – if you order a hamburger and don’t like it, you still need to pay for it!
Many comments also made the distinction between session fees and licensing, saying that clients should pay talent for their time but not necessarily pay for commercial or broadcast fees if they don’t use the recording.
Ultimately, the goal is fair rates for the talent and clients get a product that they love. So, what steps can clients and artists take to ensure this happens with every job?
A test read or audition
Everyone has to be happy with the final audio – which is where a test-read comes in handy.
Even if the client is ready to move forward based only on your Demos (which is flattering), insist on a 2-3 minute test read on a large project to make sure you’re both on the same page.
For a large commercial project or advertisement with lots of decision-makers, it’s also essential to have your test read, Sample or audition approved by everyone involved.
A creative or producer may love your voice, but decision-makers higher up in the chain should be on board to prevent awkward situations.
Inspiration and Direction
When starting a project with a new client, ask them to fill out a short survey (only 3-4 questions) that includes a place for them to provide direction. They can add a few describing words to help you know how to read their copy – which is extremely helpful.
The more detail, the better! Sometimes they’ll even cite a specific voice from your Demo Reel, which can help you know how to sound exactly like that already!
You can also ask clients to include links to any other voices or tones they like from similar or previous projects. A YouTube reference clip that you know the client already likes is a helpful way to understand quickly.
Be sure to make it clear, however, that you don’t do impressions, so that it won’t be exactly like the reference video.
Clear contracts and communications
Another important way to make sure you and the client are on the same page from the beginning is to have both parties agree to (and sign!) clearly defined contracts before any work begins.
If you cannot sign a formal contract, at the very least, communicate – in writing – your rates for revisions with the client and they’ve agreed to that in writing. Being able to point back to this and show what was previously discussed can be helpful later in case of a disagreement.
It’s recommended to include one remediation of this in case of unforeseen circumstances, but as a general rule: fight your corner.
@photorealness says, “I usually offer a money-back guarantee, but there’s session and usage that should be implicitly separated unless stated otherwise.”
Splitting payments in two or three is also a good strategy when working with a new customer in particular. If the client isn’t satisfied, they can either move forward with revisions or terminate the contract. They don’t have to pay the total amount, but you’re not left empty-handed as an artist either.
Watermarking audio
Another way to guard against having your voice appear on a platform without the proper rights purchased is by delivering a watermarked copy first is watermarking the audio. After it’s approved and you’re paid in full, then provide the client with the clean audio.
A standard watermark can be about 6 seconds long – just copy/paste it onto the raw audio file as a second track, turn the gain way down so it’s not too distracting in the background, and the client can still hear their read. Then export the file as a mono recording, so it’s not possible to separate the watermark.
Clients aren’t typically upset by this form of delivery. They are incredibly understanding, and honestly, a watermark can make you look even more professional in certain instances.
If you’re working with a regular client or a production company/agency, this is probably unnecessary, and it can sometimes cause issues if a short turnaround is required.
It’s always good to bear in mind what fits the project, after all!
The Voquent approach
At Voquent, we always get the client to approve the voice based on a Demo before any scheduled recording dates. Either a Demo on the talent’s profile or – if necessary – an audition of their script.
There have been a few instances where Voquent felt the client should get a refund – primarily when they provided clear direction notes and brief. So, we err with the client in these situations.
However, if the client expects something not reflected in the casting Demo, they are more likely to err with the voice talent.
Voquent, will always try to compensate every artists time and only in infrequent circumstances will not pay the talent.
Learn more about how it works at Voquent.
Know your voice
Knowing your voice and abilities as an artist is undoubtedly an advantage.
If you read a script that calls for something you’re not sure you can deliver, perhaps it’s not the best project for you. And that’s ok! There’s room for every voice in this beautiful online marketplace.
The best we can do is keep our communication clear and upfront, stay positive and be kind to each other when these disagreements pop up from time to time.
Find out more about voice-over jobs with Voquent
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